Oak Lawn, Illinois has 5 accredited schools offering public policy programs. Oak Lawn has a population of about 57,098. Median household income is $82,493 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 30.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, the top-earning public policy-related role is General and Operations Managers at a median $109,390 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Public Policy Schools to Oak Lawn
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer public policy programs near Oak Lawn, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Oak Lawn city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most
recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS).
To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked
against schools at the same credential level:
BOCSCORE
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Oak Lawn.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
96%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$91,885
Avg net price
$14,860/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 99%
- Programs offered: 105
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
70%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$68,740
Avg net price
$10,974/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 79%
- Programs offered: 140
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$68,751
Avg net price
$30,902/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 86%
- Programs offered: 166
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$71,530
Avg net price
$36,079/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 83%
- Programs offered: 168
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
97%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$89,363
Avg net price
$29,167/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 98%
- Programs offered: 167
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
71%
Graduation rate
68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$54,820
Avg net price
$24,595/yr
TuitionIn‑state$57,903
Out‑of‑state$57,903
Key stats
- Retention rate: 82%
- Programs offered: 41
Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$57,103
Avg net price
$9,833/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 78%
- Programs offered: 48
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois public policy page.
Public Policy Wages Near Oak Lawn
Oak Lawn is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (BLS area code 16980). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Illinois statewide.
| Occupation |
Median Wage |
Source |
COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
| Political Scientists |
$103,780 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$100,174 |
| Management Analysts |
$105,090 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$101,438 |
| Economists |
N/A |
IL statewide |
– |
| Social and Community Service Managers |
$79,150 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$76,400 |
| Survey Researchers |
$54,080 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$52,201 |
| Compliance Officers |
$82,020 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$79,170 |
| General and Operations Managers |
$109,390 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$105,589 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts |
$101,750 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$98,214 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Oak Lawn at a Glance
| Metric |
Value |
Source |
| Population |
57,098 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income |
$82,493 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ |
30.2% |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) |
103.6 (above U.S. average) |
BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Oak Lawn-Area Cities With Public Policy Programs
- Burbank, IL – 2.3 mi away (28,886 pop)
- Blue Island, IL – 5.4 mi away (23,401 pop)
- Oak Forest, IL – 7.5 mi away (27,792 pop)
- Harvey, IL – 9.0 mi away (24,947 pop)
- Cicero, IL – 9.0 mi away (82,992 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited public policy schools are near Oak Lawn, IL?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering public policy programs near Oak Lawn. The closest is University of Chicago in Chicago, IL (9.4 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Loyola University Chicago (20.4 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying public policy roles near Oak Lawn?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying public policy-related roles near Oak Lawn are: General and Operations Managers ($109,390), Management Analysts ($105,090), Political Scientists ($103,780). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Illinois statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Burbank instead of Oak Lawn?
Burbank, IL is 2.3 miles from Oak Lawn and has its own set of local public policy programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Oak Lawn an affordable place to study public policy?
Oak Lawn’s median household income of $82,493 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Oak Lawn while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Public Policy Programs
Other Programs Available in Oak Lawn
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Oak Lawn:
- History programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- English programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Sociology programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Anthropology programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Political Science programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Philosophy programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Mathematics programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- General Studies programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Forensic Psychology programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Child Development programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Data Science programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Electrical Engineering programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Software Engineering programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Engineering Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Geography programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Aviation Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- International Relations programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Chemistry programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Physics programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Neuroscience programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Spanish programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Film programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Fashion programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Architecture programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Urban Planning programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Industrial Design programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Game Design programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Instructional Design programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Higher Education Administration programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Global Health programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Art History programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Creative Writing programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Environmental Science programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Nutrition programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Theology programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Library Science programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Applied Behavior Analysis programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Medical Billing and Coding programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Medical Assistant programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Pharmacy Technician programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Health Science programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Occupational Safety and Health programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Entrepreneurship programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Interior Design programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Photography programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Sustainability Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Behavioral Health Science programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Mental Health Counseling programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Substance Abuse Counseling programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Journalism programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Public Relations programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Communication Disorders programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Speech Pathology programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Technical Communication programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Professional Writing programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Strategic Communications programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Business Development programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Construction Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Economics programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Financial Technology programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Forensic Accounting programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Health Information Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Hospitality Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- International Business programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Organizational Leadership programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Management Information Systems programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Nonprofit Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Operations Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Public Administration programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Real Estate programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Recreation Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Retail Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Risk Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Statistics programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Taxation programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Corrections programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Crime Analysis programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Criminal Justice Administration programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Criminology programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Cybercrime programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Emergency Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Fire Science programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Forensic Science programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Legal Services programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Legal Studies programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Paralegal programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Security Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Cloud Computing programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Computer Engineering programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Innovation programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Mobile App Development programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Software Development programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- User Experience programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Web Development programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Artificial Intelligence programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Machine Learning programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Supply Chain Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Data Analytics programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Public Health programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Human Resources programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Project Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Special Education programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Homeland Security programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Marketing programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Finance programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Kinesiology programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Sports Management programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Early Childhood Education programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Elementary Education programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Biology programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Communications programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Graphic Design programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Human Services programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- MBA programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Criminal Justice programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Nursing programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Business Administration programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Computer Science programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Psychology programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Education programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Engineering programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Technology programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Liberal Arts programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Healthcare programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Cybersecurity programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Accounting programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Healthcare Administration programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Social Work programs in Oak Lawn, IL
- Counseling programs in Oak Lawn, IL
Data verified: September 5, 2026.
Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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